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com
2 s ta r t yo u r j o u r ney i n acco u nt i n g an d f i nance

Think about something you like

It could be your favourite
food. Your favourite gadget.
Or your favourite movie.

Now think about the companies that

produce your favourite things. Why
do they produce them? Well, they
want you to be a happy customer.
Because happy customers are good
for business. Happy customers make
a company money. And money is the
main reason why companies exist.
Even charities and not-for-profit
companies need to make sure they
use their funds in the most efficient
way. And every single organisation,
big or small, local or global, is in
business to make money. Or save
money. Or advise other businesses
how to make and save money.

All have one thing in common. They

need professionals who understand
finance. Who can play a fundamental
role in running the business. Who can
help make the business a success.

There you have it. You’re thinking

about a career in accountancy.

A career in accountancy is a
great choice and can offer you
excellent job prospects. You could
work your way right to the very
top of an organisation with the
right professional accountancy
qualification. And because
accountants play a central function in
any business, accountancy can offer
you prestige and responsibility.

There’s a lot to think about and

consider. You may already know
you want to become a professional
accountant and the type of work
you want to do. You just need
to decide which accountancy
qualification to complete. Or you
may still be undecided and want to
keep your options open in terms
of where you work and what type
of accounting role you choose.

Whatever stage you are at in your

career planning, ACCA can help. We
have a range of qualifications, relevant
to all business sectors, to help you
reach your career destination.

Think about ACCA
Here are just some of the
reasons why you should choose
ACCA as your route to a career
in accountancy and finance.
Studying for our qualifications
will provide you with skills and
knowledge relevant to any business,
which means you are free to choose
which type of accountancy role and
organisation you want to work for.
ACCA is known as the global body
for professional accountants and
our qualifications are available
around the world. It means you can
study and work wherever you wish
your career path to take you.
People already working in the
accountancy and finance profession
know and respect our organisation
and the qualifications we offer. By
association, it means you will be in
demand. Employers will recognise
and respect your qualifications
and know you have the right skills
needed to get the job done.
We’ve been around for a long time
– over 100 years. It means people
in business know about us for all
the right reasons. We have a proven
reputation for quality and excellence.
Our qualifications remain globally
relevant. Which is why employers
recruit individuals who have our
qualifications and why we have so
many students and members. We
currently have 147,000 members and
424,000 students in over 170 countries.
We have a network of 83 offices
around the world to offer you support
while you complete your qualification.
3
Are you starting out in
accounting and finance or already
working in finance but have
no formal qualifications? Then
you can choose to take any or
all of our following entry-level
qualifications, referred to as
Foundations in Accountancy:
Introductory Certificate in Financial
and Management Accounting 16
Intermediate Certificate in Financial
and Management Accounting 17
Diploma in Accounting
and Business 18
Certified Accounting
Technician (CAT) Qualification 110
Are you a school leaver
with university entry-level
qualifications or a graduate? Then
you meet the entry requirements
to start your studies on the ACCA
Qualification. You can achieve
qualifications on the way to
becoming an ACCA member.
The ACCA
Qualification 12
Diploma in Accounting
and Business 18
Advanced Diploma in
Accounting and Business 19
BSc (Hons) degree in
Applied Accounting 20
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4 s ta r t yo u r j o u r ney i n acco u nt i n g an d f i nance

ENTRY LEVEL 1

MATHS AND ENGLISH SELF-CHECK MODULES (optional)

FOUNDATIONS IN PROFESSIONALISM MODULE

+ 2 exams + 2 exams + 3 exams

= INTRODUCTORY = INTERMEDIATE
CERTIFICATE IN CERTIFICATE IN = DIPLOMA IN
FINANCIAL AND FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING
MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS
ACCOUNTING ACCOUNTING

Foundations in Accountancy
ENTRY LEVEL 2

ENTRY LEVEL 1 + PROFESSIONAL

No prior qualifications required. ETHICS MODULE

ENTRY LEVEL 2
Technician level entry or + 6 exams
equivalent eg CAT.

ENTRY LEVEL 3
Graduate entry for accredited degrees
= ADVANCED DIPLOMA
from recognised institutions. These
IN ACCOUNTING
graduates will also need to complete
AND BUSINESS
the Professional Ethics module.

*Relevant practical experience can be

gained before, during or after exams.
ENTRY LEVEL 3

+ PER including 36 months’

work experience*

+ 5 exams

= ACCA member

ACCA Qualification
 5

+ 2 exams from 3

+ FPER
= CERTIFIED
SPECIALIST including
ACCOUNTING
OPTIONS 12 months’
TECHNICIAN
AWARDS work
(CAT)
experience

What qualifications you have now will

determine at which point you start
your journey with us. But it’s up to
you to decide how far you wish to
progress your career in accountancy.
Of course we hope you go all the
way and become a professional
accountant and an ACCA member.

There are lots of qualifications you

BSc from Oxford Brookes University
can pick up along the way to measure
your success and keep you motivated.
And all of our qualifications can be
studied as single qualifications too.

So it really is up to you to decide

how far you wish to progress.
All we ask is that you have the
ambition and determination to
work hard to succeed. We hope
the information in this brochure
will help you make that decision.

Enjoy your
MBA from Oxford Brookes University
journey

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6 s ta r t yo u r j o u r ney i n acco u nt i n g an d f i nance
Introductory Certificate in Financial
and Management Accounting
IS THIS SUITABLE FOR ME?
This certificate is suitable for anyone
looking to do an introductory
qualification in accounting
and finance, including school
leavers or those already working
in accounts-support roles.
DO I NEED ANY
QUALIFICATIONS TO START?
No previous academic
qualifications are required to
study for this qualification.
HOW DIFFICULT IS IT?
It is broadly equivalent to GCSE level.
WHAT KIND OF WORK COULD I
DO WITH THIS QUALIFICATION?
You could work in a variety of
accounts-support roles including:
–– junior accounts clerk/junior
bookkeeper role in an SME
–– a range of junior accounting
administration roles within an
accounting department of a
larger organisation or financial
shared service centre.
WHAT’S INVOLVED?
To achieve the Introductory Certificate
in Financial and Management
Accounting you will need to register
as a student for Foundations in
Accountancy and complete:
–– two exams: FA1, Recording
Financial Transactions and MA1,
Management Information
–– a professionalism and ethics
module called Foundations
in Professionalism.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE
TO COMPLETE?
It’s up to you as there is no time
limit. You can sit the exams on
demand as computer-based exams,
or paper-based exams in June
and December, at one of our 380
exam centres around the world.
You can complete Foundations in
Professionalism before or after the
exams. So you could complete this
certificate in six months or even less.
CAN I MISS OUT SOME
EXAMS IF I HAVE RELEVANT
QUALIFICATIONS?
Yes. Please visit our website to check
what exemptions you may claim based
on your previous qualifications.
CAN I GO ON TO DO OTHER
ACCA QUALIFICATIONS?
We hope you will continue to study
with ACCA and progress to the next
level. You can go on to complete the
Intermediate Certificate in Financial
and Management Accounting or the
Diploma in Accounting and Business.

Intermediate Certificate in Financial
and Management Accounting
Is this suitable for me?
This certificate is suitable for anyone
looking to do an introductory
qualification in accounting
and finance, including school
leavers or those already working
in accounts-support roles.
Do I need any
qualifications to start?
No previous academic qualifications
are required to study for this
qualification. However, you
may wish to complete ACCA’s
Introductory Certificate in
Financial and Management
Accounting before attempting
the Intermediate certificate.
How difficult is it?
It is broadly equivalent
to A level standard.
What kind of work could I
do with this qualification?
You could work in a variety
of roles including:
–– a bookkeeping or cost clerk role in
a small to medium size organisation
–– a range of accounting
administration roles within an
accounting department of a
larger organisation or financial
shared service centre.
7
What’s involved?
To achieve the Intermediate
Certificate in Financial and
Management Accounting
you will need to register as
a student for Foundations in
Accountancy and complete:
–– two exams: FA2, Maintaining
Financial Records; and MA2,
Managing Costs and Finance
–– a professionalism and ethics
module called Foundations
in Professionalism.
Please note, if you have already
completed Foundations in
Professionalism, to achieve the
Introductory Certificate in Financial
and Management Accounting, you
don’t have to complete it again.
How long will it take
to complete?
It’s up to you as there is no time
limit. You can sit the exams on
demand as computer-based exams,
or paper-based exams in June
and December, at one of our 380
exam centres around the world.
You can complete Foundations in
Professionalism before or after the
exams. So you could complete this
certificate in six months or even less.
Can I miss out some
exams if I have relevant
qualifications?
Yes. Please visit our website to check
what exemptions you may claim based
on your previous qualifications.
Can I go on to do other
ACCA qualifications?
We hope you will continue to study
with ACCA and progress to the next
level. You can go on to complete the
Diploma in Accounting and Business.
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8 s ta r t yo u r j o u r ney i n acco u nt i n g an d f i nance
Diploma in Accounting and Business
Is this suitable for me?
This Diploma is suitable for anyone
looking to do an introductory
qualification in accounting
and finance, including school
leavers or those already working
in accounts-support roles.
Do I need any
qualifications to start?
It depends. There are two ways
you can achieve this qualification.
If you don’t have any previous
academic qualifications you can
complete the Diploma, but you
will need to register as a student
for Foundations in Accountancy.
However, you may wish to
complete ACCA’s Introductory
Certificate and/or the Intermediate
Certificate in Financial and
Management Accounting before
attempting the Diploma.
If you have a minimum of three
GCSEs and two A levels in five
separate subjects, including maths
and English, you can register
for the ACCA Qualification and
complete the Diploma on the way to
achieving the ACCA Qualification.
How difficult is it?
It is broadly equivalent to the first
year of a degree programme/HND.
What kind of work cOULD I
do with this qualification?
You could work in the
following type of roles:
–– basic bookkeeping
–– trainee accountant in a commercial
organisation or accounting practice
–– accounts clerk in public sector.
What’s involved?
You can achieve the Diploma in
Accounting and Business in one
of two ways, depending on what
qualifications you have before
you register with ACCA.
Route 1
If you do not have any formal
qualifications, or you have
completed the Introductory and/or
Intermediate Certificate in Financial
and Management Accounting
you will need to complete:
–– three exams: FAB, Accountant
in Business; FMA, Management
Accounting; and FFA,
Financial Accounting
–– a professionalism and ethics
module called Foundations
in Professionalism.
Please note, if you have already
completed Foundations in
Professionalism to gain either the
Introductory and/or Intermediate
Certificate in Financial and
Management Accounting, you don’t
have to complete the module again.
Route 2
If you have qualifications to meet
the minimum entry requirements to
start the ACCA Qualification, you can
achieve the Diploma on the way to
achieving the ACCA Qualification. You
will need to register as a student on
the ACCA Qualification and complete:
–– the first three exams of the
ACCA Qualification. These are:
F1, Accountant in Business; F2,
Management Accounting; and
F3, Financial Accounting
–– a professionalism and ethics
module called Foundations
in Professionalism.
How long will it take
to complete?
It’s up to you but please note there
is a 10-year time limit to complete
the exams when achieving the ACCA
Qualification. You can sit the exams
on demand as computer-based
exams, or paper-based exams in
June and December, at one of our
380 exam centres around the world.
You can complete Foundations
in Professionalism before or after
the exams. So you could complete
this Diploma in 6–12 months.
Can I miss out some
exams if I have relevant
qualifications?
Yes. Please visit our website to check
what exemptions you may claim based
on your previous qualifications.
Can I go on to do other
ACCA qualifications?
We hope you will continue to study
with ACCA and progress your career
to the next level. If you complete
the Diploma via the Foundations in
Accountancy route, you can either
continue your studies with the
Certified Accounting Technician (CAT)
Qualification and gain our technician-
level qualification. Alternatively, you
can continue your studies to become
a professional accountant. Having
completed the Diploma, you can
transfer to the ACCA Qualification,
miss out exams F1, F2 and F3 and
continue your studies from F4
onwards. If you registered on the
ACCA Qualification to take the
Diploma, you can continue with the
ACCA Qualification from F4 onwards.
 9

Foundations in
Professionalism

At ACCA we believe accountants

who are good – ie are professional
and ethical – make good
accountants. As a professional
accountancy body, it is important
to ACCA to ensure all our students
– irrespective of which qualification
they are studying for and to
which level they wish to take their
career – understand what it means
to work and act professionally
and ethically in the workplace.

So if you become one of our

students and study for any of our
entry-level qualifications within
Foundations in Accountancy, you are
required to complete Foundations
in Professionalism. This is an online,
interactive module, designed to help
you develop your understanding of
what it means to act professionally
and ethically in the work you carry out.

You can complete Foundations

in Professionalism before or after
completing the exam component
of the qualification you are aiming
to achieve and you only need to
successfully complete the module
once, even if you decide to complete
one or more of our qualifications.

There is no set time allocated

to completing Foundations in
Professionalism. We encourage
you to complete the module at
your own pace to allow you to
reflect on what you have learnt.

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10 s ta r t yo u r j o u r ney i n acco u nt i n g an d f i nance
Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) Qualification
Is this suitable for me?
The CAT Qualification is suitable
for anyone looking to gain a
solid foundation of knowledge
in finance and accounting. It will
provide you with all the technical
skills and knowledge you need to
perform an accounts-support role
and work at a technician level.
Do I need any
qualifications to start?
No previous academic
qualifications are required to
study for the CAT Qualification.
How difficult is it?
It is broadly equivalent to the first
year of a degree programme/HND.
What kind of work could I
do with this qualification?
You could work in the
following type of roles:
–– a wide ranging and responsible
accounting role in a small to
medium size organisation
–– a financial reporting and/or
financial decision-support role,
possibly in a supervisory role,
within an accounting department
of a larger organisation
–– a financial supervisory or
management role in accounts
payables and/or receivables,
or a financial role in fixed asset
accounting or in financial
shared service centres
–– an accounting technician role
in a commercial organisation.
What’s involved?
To achieve the CAT Qualification
you will need to register as a student
for Foundations in Accountancy
and complete nine exams:
FA1 Recording Financial Transactions
MA1 Management Information
FA2 Maintaining Financial Records
MA2 Managing Costs and Finance
FAB Accountant in Business
FMA Management Accounting
FFA Financial Accounting
plus two of the following:
FTX Foundations in Taxation
FFM Foundations in Financial
Management
FAU Foundations in Audit
You will need to complete a
professionalism and ethics module
called Foundations in Professionalism.
You will also need one year’s
relevant practical experience,
in any accounting environment,
to demonstrate you can apply
the knowledge you have gained
from the exams to the working
environment. Experience can be
completed before, at the same time
or after completing the exams.
You will be awarded certificates
and a diploma along the way as you
complete the exams. This is a great
way to demonstrate to employers your
level of knowledge and capabilities
and helps motivate you to keep
studying. You’ll be awarded the
Introductory Certificate in Financial
and Management Accounting when
you have completed exams FA1 and
MA1; the Intermediate Certificate
in Financial and Management
Accounting when you have completed
exams FA2 and MA2; and the Diploma
in Accounting and Business when
you have completed exams FAB,
FMA and FFA. To achieve these
awards you must also complete
Foundations in Professionalism, but
you only need to complete it once.
Foundation Certificates in Taxation,
Financial Management and Audit
It is possible to complete the options
exams as individual exams and,
if you complete the professional
and ethics module Foundations in
Professionalism, you will be awarded
a certificate in that subject area.
Perfect if you are working – or
wanting to work – in tax, financial
management or audit and want to
validate your knowledge and skills.
How long will it take
to complete?
It’s up to you as there is no time limit.
You can sit most of the exams (not
the options) on demand as computer-
based exams, or paper-based exams
in June and December, at one of our
380 exam centres around the world.
You can complete Foundations in
Professionalism before or after the
exams. The practical experience
can be completed before, at the
same time or after the exams. So
you could complete the CAT
Qualification in one or two years.
Can I miss out some
exams if I have relevant
qualifications?
Yes. Please visit our website to check
what exemptions you may claim based
on your previous qualifications.
Also, you can use any relevant
practical experience you have
to claim exemption from exams
FA1, MA1, FA2 and MA2.
Can I go on to do other
ACCA qualifications?
We hope you will continue to study
with ACCA and progress your career
to the next level. After completing
your CAT Qualification, you can
continue your studies with the ACCA
Qualification and work towards
becoming a qualified chartered
certified accountant. You will be
able to claim exemption from three
exams of the ACCA Qualification
(F1, F2 and F3) and start your studies
from F4 onwards. The one year’s
experience you have completed
to gain the CAT Qualification can
count towards the three years of
practical experience needed to
achieve the ACCA Qualification.
You’ve made a great start towards
achieving the ACCA Qualification,
so why not continue the journey and
become a professionally qualified
accountant and an ACCA member?
 11

Firm
foundations To maximise
value from my
opportunities
with ACCA I took
It’s Chris Tang’s ambition to be a chief my CAT studies to
credit analyst or portfolio manager
in his bank and he is already well
the next level
on his way to achieving it. ‘I started and completed
my CAT Qualification studies while the ACCA
I was doing a four-year honours Qualification and
programme at what is now known
as Hong Kong Shue Yan University,’ the BSc degree.
explains Chris. ‘Just over four years
later not only had I attained the CAT
Qualification but I’d also successfully
completed the ACCA Qualification
and got a degree from a prestigious
UK university – all with ACCA.’

Embarking on his studies, Chris’s aim

was to take at least two exams every
six months. ‘Sometimes I managed to
complete four papers in a six-month
period – which was great progress –
especially as I chose self-study,’ says
Chris. But he decided to maximise
his chances of passing his ACCA
Qualification exams by attending an
ACCA Approved Learning Partner.
‘I was one of the first students to
complete the CAT Qualification
back in 2000,’ Chris says proudly.
‘The skills I acquired helped me to
rapidly advance my career from a
support role into management.’

Chris is now a credit analyst at

China Construction Bank and Name CHRIS TANG
FAST FACTS

before that he worked for another Job title CREDIT ANALYST

listed bank for eight years. ‘As well
as my role at China Construction Employer CHINA CONSTRUCTION
Bank I am also a senior lecturer for BANK
students taking ACCA Qualification Studies Chris completed his CAT
exams,’ explain Chris. ‘I’m proud exams in 2000 and achieved
to have taught students who his ACCA Qualification in
have been awarded prizes from 2005. Through his studies
ACCA for achieving top marks. he also achieved a degree
– graduating with a BSc in
Applied Accounting from
‘The job prospects for accounting Oxford Brookes University
professionals are bright,’ says Chris. and Master of Finance
‘CAT and ACCA are recognised from Curtin University of
worldwide and are regarded as Technology, Australia
premium business qualifications. They
Career at Eight years at a listed bank
cover the essential skills needed to a glance in Hong Kong, including
understand the financial activities six years in a management
and performance of a company and role and joined China
allow students to make sense of Construction Bank in 2010
different aspects of business so they
Hobbies Going to the movies,
can prepare themselves to take up spending time with family
further challenges in the future.’ and friends, and travelling

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12 s ta r t yo u r j o u r ney i n acco u nt i n g an d f i nance
The ACCA Qualification
Is this suitable for me?
You should choose this qualification
if you want to become a professional
accountant and have the choice of
working in any type of accountancy
sector, either in your own country or
other countries around the world.
Do I need any
qualifications to start?
Yes. You need a minimum of
three GCSEs and two A levels,
in five separate subjects,
including maths and English,
or equivalent qualifications.
If you don’t have these minimum
qualifications, you should register
for Foundations in Accountancy and
study for one, or all, of our entry-level
qualifications. You can study for the
ACCA Qualification after you have
completed the Diploma in Accounting
and Business, but you may wish
to complete the Introductory and
Intermediate Certificates in Financial
and Management Accounting first.
Please refer to these sections in
this booklet for more information.
How difficult is it?
Professional exams are hard work,
so only those with the determination
to succeed should apply. The
Fundamentals level (the first nine
papers) is equivalent to degree
level and the Professional level is
equivalent to a master’s degree.
What kind of work could I
do with this qualification?
As a qualified chartered certified
accountant you could work in any
sector, in any type and size of
organisation. For example, with
the ACCA Qualification you can
specialise in one area of accountancy,
eg audit or tax, with a small firm
of accountants or one of the big
accountancy firms. Or you may
wish to work in a consultancy role,
provide financial information and
advice, or manage the finances of
a large multinational company.
How long will it take
to complete?
It depends on what qualifications
you have before you register with
us. The quickest way to qualify is to
work and study at the same time. If
you do, you could qualify in three or
four years. Studying for the ACCA
Qualification is very flexible and
you can progress at your own pace.
ACCA has a ten year time limit, from
the date of registration, for you to
complete the exam component.
Can I miss out some
exams if I have relevant
qualifications?
Yes. For example, if you have a
relevant degree from an accredited
institution, you may be exempt from
our first nine exams, leaving you
only five exams to complete. Please
visit our website to check what
exemptions you may claim based
on your previous qualifications.
Do i just need to pass exams
to become ACCA qualified?
No. You will also need to complete
three years’ relevant practical
experience and achieve 13
performance objectives. Don’t forget,
you will also need to complete the
Professional Ethics module too.
Can I go on to do other
ACCA qualifications?
Yes. As an ACCA member, you will
be required to keep your knowledge
and skills up to date. We provide
lots of learning opportunities for
you to do this, including technical
resources, articles to read, courses
and seminars. We also offer an MBA
with Oxford Brookes University for
members who wish to achieve a
generalist business qualification.
WHAT’S INVOLVED?
To achieve the ACCA Qualification you
will need to complete exams, an ethics
module and practical experience.
Exams
You need to complete 14 exams
in total. A maximum of nine
exams in the Fundamentals level
are available for exemption.
FUNDAMENTALS LEVEL
Knowledge exams
F1 Accountant in Business
F2 Management Accounting
F3* Financial Accounting
Skills exams
F4** Corporate and Business Law
F5 Performance Management
F6** Taxation
F7* Financial Reporting
F8* Audit and Assurance
F9 Financial Management
PROFESSIONAL LEVEL
P1 Governance, Risk and Ethics
P2* Corporate Reporting
P3 Business Analysis
Two of the following options
P4 Advanced Financial
Management
P5 Advanced Performance
Management
P6** Advanced Taxation
P7* Advanced Audit and Assurance
* These exams are based on
international standards for financial
reporting and auditing and have
also been adapted for national
accountancy practices in Hong Kong,
Ireland, Singapore and the UK.
** In some countries, it is possible
to take versions of these exams
based on local law and tax.
We call these variants. Visit our
website for more details.
 13

Ethics

A Professional Ethics module designed to give you exposure to a range

of perspectives to develop your ethical knowledge. It’s important
to ACCA that you know how to behave ethically and professionally.
This module should be completed before, at the same time as or
soon after completing Paper P1, Governance, Risk and Ethics.

Experience

You will need to complete three years’ relevant practical experience and achieve
13 performance objectives. This will help you to demonstrate to potential
employers that you can apply your knowledge to the workplace and are
ready for business. You can achieve your work experience before, at the same
time as or after completing your exams. Ideally, at the same time is best.

ESSENTIALS (all nine to be completed)

Professionalism, ethics and governance

1 Demonstrate the application of professional ethics, values and judgement
2 Contribute to the effective governance of an organisation
3 Raise awareness of non-financial risk
Personal effectiveness
4 Manage self
5 Communicate effectively
6 Use information and communications technology
Business management
7 Manage ongoing activities in your area of responsibility
8 Improve departmental performance
9 Manage an assignment

OPTIONS (any four to be completed)

Financial accounting and reporting

10 Prepare financial statements for external purposes
11 Interpret financial transactions and financial statements
Performance measurement and management accounting
12 Prepare financial information for management
13 Contribute to budget planning and production
14 Monitor and control budgets
Finance and financial management
15 Evaluate potential business/investment opportunities
and the required finance options
16 Manage cash using active cash management and treasury systems
Audit and assurance
17 Prepare for and collect evidence for audit
18 Evaluate and report on audit
Taxation
19 Evaluate and compute taxes payable
20 Assist with tax planning

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14 s ta r t yo u r j o u r ney i n acco u nt i n g an d f i nance
Destination anywhere
‘It’s a career where
both your earning
and travel potential
are limited only by
the opportunities you
choose,’ says Sarah
Pumfrett FCCA. Having
left school at 16 to work
in a shop, she started
her ACCA studies aged
27. Sarah has now seen
the world, and has
never looked back.
‘I left school at 16 and started
work the following day in an
ironmonger’s shop,’ says Sarah.
‘I sold everything from fine china
to maggots! From there, I held
a variety of jobs in a number of
sectors including engineering, local
authority, education, agriculture,
and also in charity. At the same
time I went to night school to gain
some qualifications. I was 27 when I
made my big decision. I had two job
options – driving an ambulance and
training to be a paramedic or taking
a role as an internal audit clerk. And
the rest, as they say, is history.’
Just over a decade later, Sarah is
now a senior internal auditor at
Shell, a global group of energy
and petrochemicals companies
with around 101,000 employees in
more than 90 countries. ‘Internal
audit is more common sense than
rocket science,’ explains Sarah.
‘Essentially, what I do is find out
what management wants to achieve,
identify what can get in the way,
and assess whether or not there
are controls in place to allow them
to manage, monitor and evaluate
their progress towards their goals.’
Financial
expertise is not
only an advantage
for any manager,
Sarah started her ACCA studies in
1998. Back then she was employed but a fundamental
full-time, simultaneously ran a
requirement
business part-time, and had six
horses to look after. During her for those at
studies she attained a couple of
the top of any
promotions and also changed
employer, moving from the public organisation.
to private sector. ‘I won’t lie, it was
tough’ admits Sarah. ‘It wasn’t
possible for me to attend regular
tuition or intensive study sessions.
So I simply bought the approved
textbooks and studied as best I could
during evenings and weekends.
‘ACCA isn’t an easy option. It will
take hours of study, experience
and hard work. But the dedication
will pay dividends as employers
recognise the value qualified
accountants bring to business. It’s
a profession with great flexibility,
which truly can be fitted in around
“life” in terms of work/life balance.’
Sarah attempted four exams each
exam session every six months. But
towards the end of her studies she
focused on one paper at a time.
‘There were some papers I found
easy and passed first time and there
were some that I struggled with,’
admits Sarah. ‘There was always a
dilemma between studying fewer
papers and attempting to get a good
pass first time, or studying as many
as I could and then retaking any that
I failed. I decided that, for me, there
was more value in qualifying than
being a prize-winning student.’
Sarah completed her final exams in
2003. ‘Attaining ACCA after all the
hard work finally gave my mother
the opportunity to “wear a hat”
at my graduation. I remember the
first time I wrote “ACCA” after
my name. I’d been asked to write
a reference for somebody and it
was a fantastic feeling to add the
authority of my designation.’
 15

Name SARAH PUMFRETT

FAST FACTS
Job title SENIOR INTERNAL
AUDITOR
Employer SHELL
Studies Joined ACCA in 1998,
completed her final exams in
February 2003 and achieved
membership a month later
Career at 12 years’ experience working
a glance across Africa, Asia, the
Middle East, Europe and
the Americas, including
assignments in Port
Harcourt, Nigeria; Tehran,
Iran; Damascus, Syria;
and Anchorage, the US
Hobbies Caring for four
horses and two dogs,
gardening, reading and
listening to music

SARAH’S WORK FALLS INTO

WHAT’S INVOLVED?

THREE BROAD PHASES

Preparation
Finding out about the business.

Fieldwork
Interviewing, reviewing evidence
of risk management controls,
documenting results.

Wrap
Concluding on the effectiveness of
risk management controls, performing
root cause analysis on control
gaps and failures, agreeing actions
to address the deficiencies with
management, and issuing the report.

Her work covers ‘upstream’ – getting the
oil/gas out of the ground and through
to a point for processing, ‘midstream’
– initial processing (such as liquefying
natural gas), ‘downstream’ – turning the
condensate into chemicals, lubricants
and by-products at the refineries, through
to sales on the garage forecourt.

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16 s ta r t yo u r j o u r ney i n acco u nt i n g an d f i nance
Thinking big
Having enjoyed
working for a Big Four
firm in Barbados,
Canada and the
Bahamas – across
a broad range of
industries – it is little
wonder that Chris
Brome FCCA, a senior
manager at KPMG,
can’t think of anything
else he’d rather do.
‘I really enjoy travelling and exploring
new places,’ says Chris. ‘I love to
experience new cultures and people,
and fortunately my current job has
afforded me travel to a number
of places across Europe, North
America and the Caribbean.’
Originally from Barbados, Chris
studied for a degree in computer
science and accounting from the
University of the West Indies. ‘I
chose subjects in my degree that
closely followed the ACCA syllabus
so that when I registered with
ACCA my degree studies would be
recognised and I could gain maximum
exemptions. As a result, I only had
to sit seven exams with ACCA.
‘I joined KPMG Barbados in 1998
and started my ACCA studies. I
found that a combination of self-
study, group study and revision
classes worked best for me.’ Chris
completed his final exams two years
later and achieved membership the
following year. ‘As I was working
while I was studying I was able
to put my studies into context.
This meant my work helped me
understand the theory and I found
that I could immediately put into
practice what I was learning in my
studies. It also helped that I was
earning while I was learning.’
Chris’s decision to study ACCA still
required careful thought: ‘Be aware
of the uncertainty, but inspired by
the possibility,’ is his advice. ‘As you
consider whether or not to pursue
an ACCA qualification there may
be tremendous doubt in your mind
about registering and whether or
not you will pass the exams. But if
you look past that, you can be really
inspired by the possibilities that
are almost immediately created.’
Chris’s achievements, including
being top Barbados student in two
subjects, were recognised at work
through remuneration and promotion.
It also enhanced his ability to
manage relationships with clients.
‘I was invited to travel to Toronto in
2002 where I started to work in the
financial advisory services area. By
2003 I was an assistant manager.
But I continued to have a keen
interest in corporate finance. And I
maintained contact with colleagues
in the Caribbean.’ In 2004, Chris
returned to Barbados. Two years
later he was promoted to manager
and was working on transactions up
to US$370m, for which he enjoyed
a secondment to the Bahamas.
He is now a senior manager at KPMG
in Barbados in the corporate finance
area and has experience of working
across a number of industries. ‘What If you want a
I most enjoy is that no two days are challenging and
the same. I get satisfaction from
seeing a completed assignment rewarding career
in the form of a report, and from it’s essential that
that report your client taking action
based on what you’ve advised. It’s
you get qualified.
also about working with a good At the end of the
team of individuals on a project.
day, when you step
‘Working in a Big Four firm like into a boardroom,
KPMG provides variety – both in
terms of the people and companies
you want to add
that you get to work with – and value and speak
you can expect to enjoy upward, with authority.
global and cross-functional mobility.
I can’t think of anywhere else I’d
rather be. And there’s one thing
my job will never be – dull.’
 17

Name CHRIS BROME

FAST FACTS
Job title SENIOR MANAGER
– ADVISORY
Employer KPMG BARBADOS
Studies Joined ACCA in 1998,
completed his final
exams in December
2000 and achieved
membership in 2001
Career at 12 years’ experience
a glance working mainly in financial
advisory services in
Barbados, the Bahamas
and Canada in offshore
banking, insurance,
telecommunications,
retail, hospitality, tourism
and leisure, oil and gas,
government and not-for-
profit organisations
Hobbies ‘Liming’ (hanging out) with
friends and playing the piano

IN PRACTICE
WHAT’S INVOLVED?

Chris was part of an international

team performing an evaluation of
the operations for the privatisation
and development of an airport.

He managed a team of regional resources

that performed financial due diligence
for a multimillion-dollar transaction
which involved reviewing the operations
of a hotel and development costs
for a number of villas in St Lucia.

Chris led a team of professionals that

performed bid defence services for a client
involved in a hostile takeover situation.

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18 s ta r t yo u r j o u r ney i n acco u nt i n g an d f i nance

Collect qualifications
along the way
As you study and train for the ACCA Qualification, there are lots of
qualifications you can achieve along the way as you progress towards ACCA
membership. This is a great way to demonstrate to employers the knowledge
and skills you have acquired and helps keep you on track and motivated.

On your way to ACCA membership you can achieve:

–– a Diploma in Accounting and Business (see page 8)

–– an Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business
–– a BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Accounting from
Oxford Brookes University (see page 20).

Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business
Is this suitable for me?
If you decide to complete the ACCA
Qualification, you can achieve the
Advanced Diploma in Accounting
and Business on your way to
completing the ACCA Qualification.
Do I need any
qualifications to start?
You need the minimum entry
requirements to start the ACCA
Qualification, which is three GCSEs
and two A levels in five separate
subjects, including maths and
English. Or you could complete
ACCA’s Diploma in Accounting and
Business first – via the Foundations
in Accountancy route – and then
go on to complete the Advanced
Diploma. If you choose this route you
can miss out exams F1, F2 and F3.
How difficult is it?
It is broadly equivalent to an
undergraduate degree programme.
What kind of work could I
do with this qualification?
You could work in the
following type of roles:
–– a wide ranging and responsible
accounting role in a small to
medium size organisation
–– a financial reporting and/or
financial decision-support role,
possibly in a supervisory role,
within an accounting department
of a larger organisation
–– a financial supervisory or
management role in accounts
payables and/or receivables,
or a financial role in fixed asset
accounting or in financial
shared service centres
–– an accounting technician role
in a commercial organisation.
19
What’s involved?
You will need to register to
complete the ACCA Qualification.
When you have completed the
Fundamentals level exams (F1-F9)
and also the Professional Ethics
module, you will be awarded the
Advanced Diploma in Accounting
and Business. You can progress to
the Professional level to continue
your ACCA Qualification.
How long will it take
to complete?
It’s up to you, but please note there
is a 10-year time limit to complete
the exams when gaining the ACCA
Qualification. You can sit the exams in
June and December at one of our 380
exam centres around the world. You
can complete the Professional Ethics
module before or after you complete
Paper P1, Governance, Risk and Ethics
to be awarded the Advanced Diploma.
Can I miss out some
exams if I have relevant
qualifications?
Yes. Please visit our website to
check what exemptions you may
claim based on your previous
qualifications. However, please
note you will have to complete at
least two of the Fundamentals level
exams and the ethics module to be
awarded the Advanced Diploma
in Accounting and Business.
Can I go on to do other
ACCA qualifications?
Yes. We hope you will continue
with your Professional level exams
to gain the ACCA Qualification.
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20 s ta r t yo u r j o u r ney i n acco u nt i n g an d f i nance
BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Accounting
Is this suitable for me?
You can achieve a BSc (Hons) degree
in Applied Accounting, awarded
by Oxford Brookes University,
while you work towards your ACCA
Qualification. Perfect for those of
you who haven’t got a degree. And
even if you are a graduate, you get
the opportunity to achieve a degree
awarded by a UK university with
an excellent reputation. Oxford
Brookes University has been voted
the best modern university in the
Sunday Times Good University
Guide for 10 years in succession.
Do I need any
qualifications to start?
You can complete this qualification
as you work towards achieving
ACCA membership so you need
the minimum entry qualifications
to start the ACCA Qualification,
which is three GCSEs and two A
levels in five separate subjects,
including maths and English. Or you
could complete ACCA’s Diploma in
Accounting and Business first – via
the Foundations in Accountancy
route. If you choose this route you
can miss out exams F1, F2 and F3.
How difficult is it?
Although this degree programme
is exclusively available to ACCA
students, it is awarded by
Oxford Brookes University and
is the same level as any other UK
undergraduate degree programme.
Why would I want a
degree if I’m working
towards a professional
accountancy qualification?
Isn’t a professional
qualification a higher
level of qualification?
Yes it is and even if you have a
relevant accounting degree you would
still need to complete a professional
accountancy qualification to become
a qualified accountant. But if you want
to add valuable qualifications to your
CV and boost your job prospects
you should consider completing
this degree. A degree gives you
credibility in the workplace. You
also develop new skills which are
highly valued by employers and can
lead to improved job prospects.
The combination of a degree and
a professional qualification makes
you very employable. And the
good thing about this degree is
that you gain it at the same time
as you are studying for your ACCA
Qualification. So you get two
qualifications without doubling your
workload (or the cost of studying).
What’s involved?
You don’t actually have to go
to Oxford Brookes and study
for three years to complete this
degree. What you have to do is:
–– register for the ACCA Qualification
–– complete the Fundamentals
level exams (F1-F9)
–– complete the Professional
Ethics module
–– submit a Research and
Analysis project.
As two of these three steps are
required anyway to complete
the ACCA Qualification, the
only extra work you have to do
is complete a business-related
Research and Analysis project.
Can I go on to do other
ACCA qualifications?
We hope you will continue to study
with ACCA and progress your
career to the next level. If you have
completed the degree you will also
be awarded the Advanced Diploma
in Accounting and Business (having
completed the Professional Ethics
module and exams F1-F9) and can
progress with the Professional level
exams of the ACCA Qualification.
In terms of the
usual time and
costs involved
in undertaking a
degree it’s great
value for money
and a clever way
of getting your
ACCA studies
recognised by a
UK university.
 21

Degree of
confidence
Affan Ali, originally from Pakistan and
now living in Singapore, completed
the CAT exams, ACCA exams and
gained a degree from the UK’s leading
modern university, all within five years.
‘What’s best is that I didn’t have to
repeat any studies,’ says Affan. ‘I
used the CAT Qualification as a fast-
track on to the ACCA Qualification,
and the ACCA exams I passed
contributed towards achieving the
BSc degree. It meant I only needed
to complete a Research and Analysis
Project and the Professional Ethics
module to gain a BSc (Hons) degree
in Applied Accounting awarded
by Oxford Brookes University.’

‘Attaining the degree shows

employers that you have the key
graduate skills of self-reflection and
communication,’ explains Affan.
‘To complete the project I chose to
focus on the accounting and business
issues within an organisation and
explained why a company’s financial
performance had changed. You need
to look into its business environment
and identify those actions taken by
the company, its competitors and
government which led to changes in
the overall business performance.’

Affan chose Shell and was awarded

a prize for the best project out
of the 2,500 ACCA students who
submitted their projects at the same
session. Judges said his analysis was
coherent, accurate, informative logical
and intelligent. ‘It’s my proudest Name AFFAN ALI
FAST FACTS

achievement to date,’ says Affan.

Job title AUDIT ASSISTANT
It took Affan about two months to Employer ROHAN MAH AND
complete his Research and Analysis PARTNERS, SINGAPORE
Project. ‘In terms of the usual time Studies Joined ACCA in 2005
and costs involved in undertaking a and completed his final
degree it’s great value for money and exams and gained his BSc
a clever way of getting your ACCA in Applied Accounting
studies recognised by a UK university. in December 2008
But more than that, I wouldn’t have Career at 14 months’ experience
otherwise had the opportunity to be a glance working at PwC in Lahore,
awarded a degree. And the beauty Pakistan, and has worked
is that students can gain a degree at a firm in Singapore for
from Oxford Brookes University the past nine months
from anywhere in the world.’ Hobbies Watching and playing
cricket and football

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22 s ta r t yo u r j o u r ney i n acco u nt i n g an d f i nance

Ready to APPLY?

So you’ve now decided which ACCA qualification is right for you and at what
level you need to start.

The next thing you need to do is apply to be a student.

You can register at any time of the year. The easiest and quickest way to apply
is online and enter for your exams at the same time. There are lots of extra
benefits if you do. You can:
– register, apply for exemptions, and enter for exams – all in one online
application
– part-complete an application and return to complete at a later date
– upload all your supporting documentation, saving time and postage costs
– track your application
– start studying! Your application will only take a short time to process and we
will confirm at which level you can progress your studies.

Apply online at www.accaglobal.com/applynow

If you can’t apply online, please contact ACCA Connect – our global customer
contact centre for further information on how to register. You’ll find the details
on our website and on the back cover of this brochure.

If you wish to apply as a student and then enter for exams at a later date, please 
ensure you allow plenty of time to submit your initial application so you still have
time to enter for exams. Visit our website for exam entry closing dates.

As a guideline, if you are applying fully online, including paying and uploading
supporting documentation, it can take up to 15 working days from ACCA
receiving your application to you receiving your registration confirmation and
exam entry details and 20 working days if supporting documents have been
posted to ACCA.

It is especially important to allow this amount of time if an exam entry closing date
is approaching. This allows us time to contact you should there be any issues with
your initial application.

Our partnerships with national accountancy bodies

In certain countries, ACCA works in partnership with the national accountancy
body to allow you to gain membership to both ACCA or CAT and the national
body at the same time. We refer to these partnerships as Joint Examination
Schemes. It means you only need to sit one set of exams to meet the exam
requirement for the ACCA or CAT Qualification and the national body
qualification. You will need to register with ACCA and the national accountancy
body if you live in a country where we have a Joint Examination Scheme.
Please visit our website for further information.

Are you ready to study?
Completing our self-check modules
in maths and English can help
you decide if you are ready to
start your studies with ACCA.
The self-check modules are optional
to complete, free of charge, and
could save you time and money as
they provide instant feedback on
your levels of ability in maths and
English – the language in which
ACCA’s exams are assessed.
Not only could the modules boost
your confidence, but they may also
give you the reassurance you need
to begin studying with ACCA.
Also available are e-learning
modules to improve your maths,
as well as information on learning
materials offered by other providers
to enhance your English language
skills. Visit our website to complete
the self-check modules and
access the learning resources.
Getting started
After you have registered with us
as a student, you will need to think
about how you want to study for
the qualification you have chosen.
There are lots of different ways to
study so you need to decide what
study method is right for you.
You can choose to study at a tuition
provider, by distance learning or
even self study. And you can choose
full-time or part-time, depending on
how much time you have available.
If you decide face-to-face learning
is for you, ACCA has a network of
over 440 tuition providers around
the world. Some of them are part of
ACCA’s Approved Learning Partner
programme, which means they are
checked by ACCA and offer high-
quality tuition and support. You can
find your nearest Approved Learning
Partner on the ACCA website.
23
The right materials
However you decide to study, you
should make sure you use the most
up to date study materials available
and preferably from one of ACCA’s
Approved Learning Partners - content
(or ALP-c for short). BPP Learning
Media is ACCA’s only Platinum
Approved Learning Partner - content.
You can find BPP’s contact details on
the back of this brochure. As BPP is
ACCA’s Platinum Approved Learning
Partner - content, its materials are
subject to quality assurance by ACCA,
including exclusive examiner reviews
of study texts and exam question kits.
ACCA also has a number of quality
assured Gold Approved Learning
Partners - content. The Gold ALP-c
providers, as of 1 January 2011, are
listed on the back of this brochure.
Please visit our website to find the
most up-to-date details of ACCA’s
Approved Learning Partners -
content. You will also find details of
non-approved learning materials
and suggested wider reading which
may help support your studies.
Prove your ability
If you have chosen to complete
the CAT Qualification or the ACCA
Qualification, you also need to
gain relevant training. It’s up to
you to decide if you want to work
and study at the same time or
complete your exams first.
We have a global network of over
8,500 Approved Employers who
we work closely with to make sure
they provide you with the right
type of training and development.
But you can gain your training
with any employer. They don’t
have to be approved by ACCA.
It is your responsibility to find an
employer to work for but we will
give you lots of guidance and
support to help you make the right
choice. Through our website we will
provide you with resources to help
you record your relevant training.
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ANY QUESTIONS?

Contact ACCA Connect – our global customer services centre – by

email or telephone or visit our website for further information.

students@accaglobal.com
+44 (0)141 582 2000
www.accaglobal.com
PLATINUM Approved Learning Partner - content

BPP Learning Media is ACCA’s Platinum

Approved Learning Partner - content

learningmedia@bpp.com
+44 (0)845 075 1100
www.bpp.com/learning-materials.aspx

Gold Approved Learning Partners – content

Get Through Guides

enquiry@GetThroughGuides.co.uk
+44 (0)845 257 5729
www.getthroughguides.co.uk

Kaplan
publishing@kaplan.co.uk
+44 (0)1189 890629
www.kaplan-publishing.kaplan.co.uk